Novice Wildcats End Hard Working Season

The Chatham-Kent Wildcats U10 boys took to the hardwood this weekend for there provincial championships. The weekend unfortunately was not what they wanted but the dedication they displayed was fantastic.

Let me start from the beginning. It started with not having enough players to have a team. Coach Tom Grochmal recruited players so the boys could play. We played with 5 kids in grade 2, 2 in grade 3 and 3 in grade 4. Out of this 10, 7 players have never played travel basketball. Our team played teams predominantly made up of grade 4’s.

Our first tournament in Guelph was an eye opener. We had less than ten practices and threw the boys in the fire. They did not back down but it was very evident we were over matched losing 3 games by 20 points. Our next step was playing in a league out of Windsor along with twice a week practices and the transformation was taking place. We steam roll through the league going 10-2 and finishing first. Our next challenge was blessed sacrament tournament in Hamilton. Keep in mind we have not played a tournament in 3 months and the coming out party started. They placed us in division 3(division 1 best) and we were a little surprised as we have only played a few teams. The boys came out and proved we belonged by winning gold and going undefeated at this tournament. Next stop the provincials division 3 again! We had lost to one team in this division by 20+ in Guelph but we were a much different team.

The provincials were extremely tough and our ranking was 20th in the province. We come out in an extremely hard fought game against Milton on Friday night and end up losing by 4. Our next game Saturday morning was against Oakville and yet another hard fought battle losing by 6. Our Saturday afternoon game was against Etobicoke and wouldn’t you believe another tough loss by 8. These three losses did not let the young Wildcats team define there season. Sunday morning we play Woodbridge and they once again find that no team is going to let them win they have to earn it. Unfortunately with the game 42-41 we are forced to foul and they win by 4 yet another tough loss.

Work EQUALS Reward as this team finished 24th in the province and there could have been no team let alone one that finished 24th in the province! Congratulations to the boys on a great season!

Pictured Aboce: Back row left to right: Head coach Tom Grochmal, Temmi Adefarasin, Adam Vsetula middle row left to right Gibson Dunlop, Cortez Rush, Caleb Roberts, Braeden Byrne, Jack Grochmal, Assistant coach Jeff Byrne, bottom row left to right Jaxson Baker, Christian Suffi(kneeling) and CJ Roberts.